Quick Disconnect Support System For Portable Electronic Devices

ABSTRACT

A quick disconnect system with one or more mounting stations, and a mounting case for an electronic device that encloses an electronic device. The mounting stations are attached to locations such as the back of an automobile seat, a baby stroller, furniture, etc. The mounting case is moved from one mounting station to another, as needed, when the user detaches the mounting case from the first mounting station and then quickly attaches the mounting case to another mounting station.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to, and claims the benefit of, the provisional patent application entitled “Quick Disconnect Support System For Portable Electronic Devices”, filed Feb. 7, 2012, bearing U.S. Ser. No. 61/595,694 and naming Sarah Stern, the named inventor herein, as sole inventor, the contents of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to mounting/support systems for electronic devices. In particular, it relates to a quick disconnect multi-support system with connection means that allow a mounting case for a portable electronic device to be quickly moved from one carrier to another, wherein the carrier may be an automobile, a stroller, baby carriage, a crib, etc.

2. Background

A variety of portable electronic devices have been recently developed, such as tablet computers, video players, etc. One advantage of these devices is that they can be programmed with video/entertainment programming. They can be especially useful when traveling with a young child in that they allow the child to be entertained while the parent or guardian is taking care of necessary chores.

Unfortunately, while a parent may wish to use a tablet computer or other device to entertain or educate a child as the parent and child travel from one location to another, there is no convenient way to do this. Each time the parent moves the child from one environment to another, the parent must figure out how to secure the tablet or other device while in route to a new location. It would be desirable to have a method of moving a tablet computer or other electronic device from one location to another in a convenient and rapid manner.

Currently, there are numerous cases that enclose electronic devices such as a tablet computer, and provide a secure case for such electronic devices. However, while the electronic device is protected, prior art cases do not provide any means of conveniently and rapidly moving the electronic device from one physical environment to another.

While these various prior art devices accomplish their intended purpose of protecting the enclosed electronic device, they fail to provide a system whereby a user can easily and conveniently move an electric device from one secured location to another secured location while the electronic device remains enclosed in a protective cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system with one or more mounting stations, and a mounting case for an electronic device. Each mounting station attaches to the mounting case that encloses an electronic device. The mounting stations are attached to locations such as the back of an automobile seat, a baby stroller, etc. As the mounting case is moved from one location, such as a car seat, to another location, such as a stroller, the mounting case is detached from the first mounting station and then quickly attached to another mounting station. A plurality of mounting stations can be used to facilitate the rapid relocation of the electronic device to any preselected location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front plan view of a preferred embodiment of a mounting case for an electronic device.

FIG. 2 is illustrates a rear plan view of a preferred embodiment of a mounting case for an electronic device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a mounting case in a tabletop-viewing configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a mounting case secured to a mounting station that in turn is secured to the headrest assembly in a vehicle.

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a mounting case secured to the handle of a child's stroller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Prior to a detailed discussion of the figures, a general overview of the invention will be presented. The invention provides one or more mounting stations that contain attachment points for securing an electronic device mounting case to one or more locations.

Each mounting station is secured to a predetermined location within a vehicle, on a stroller, etc. Each mounting station further has quick disconnect mounting locations that are designed to allow the quick attachment or detachment of a mounting case that secures an electronic device. The electronic device can be any one of a variety of devices that provide visual. For example, it can be a commercially available iPad™ or any other tablet computer, it can be other devices capable of producing video, such as an iPod™, and it can even be used for intelligent phones capable of video, such as the iPhone™ and similar devices. The mounting station allows the device to be quickly moved from one attachment point to another.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the mounting case is preferably sized to snugly fit the electronic device that it is designed to hold. As a result, the mounting case can be fabricated in a number of sizes to suit particular electronic devices. In the case of tablet computers, they are now commercially available in a number of sizes based on the desired screen size, such as 10 inch, 7 inch, etc. While custom sized mounting cases can be fabricated to precisely fit a particular electronic device's design, it is also possible to conveniently use a mounting case designed for a larger device such as a 10 inch iPad, to mount a smaller device such as a 7 inch iPad, an iPod or a video-capable cell phone, or other similar device. This approach allows a single mounting case size to be used for multiple electronic device sizes.

While the principal use of the mounting station and the mounting case is for them to be used as an entertainment/educational device for small children, it can also be used for other purposes. For example, if a device such as a tablet computer, or video-capable cell phone is supported by the mounting station, the use of commercially available software such as Skype™ would allow those devices to be used as audio/video monitoring stations when attached to a crib or other location in a child's room. If a child is ill, this would allow the parent to monitor the child without entering the room and disturbing child while sleeping or resting.

In the preferred embodiment, mounting stations are attached to one or more vehicles in the household, and also to one or more strollers, baby carriages, cribs, furniture, etc. When a parent travels with a child from one location to another, the parent quickly attaches the mounting case that holds the electronic device to a mounting station attached to a vehicle in a location where the child can watch any programming that is playing on the electronic device. This provides entertainment to the child and allows the child to travel more easily and enjoyably.

Once the vehicle reaches the destination, the parent can quickly detach the mounting case from the mounting station in the vehicle, and then quickly attach it to another mounting station attached to a second device, such as a child's stroller, crib, etc. wherever installed, the mounting stations provide a convenient point of attachment to allow very rapid and convenient movement of an electronic device from one location to another. While it is possible to move the mounting station with the mounting case, the low-cost of a mounting station allows multiple mounting stations to be permanently secured to particular preselected locations.

Having discussed the features and advantages of the invention in general, we turn now to a more detailed discussion of the figures.

In FIG. 1, a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a mounting station 1 is illustrated. The mounting case 1 can be made of any suitable material, such as vinyl, nylon, cordura™, leather, plastic, fabric, etc. The only requirement is that material selected should be suitable for its purpose. In this embodiment, a binding 2 extends around the periphery of the mounting case 1. The upper portion of the mounting case 1 provides a viewing window 3 that allows visual access to the video screen of an electronic device (not shown) stored within. Providing that the binding 2 is sized to securely retain the electronic device held within, the viewing window 3 can be an open window without any material that allows direct viewing of the video screen on the electronic device. While this will provide the best-quality viewing environment, if the user intends to use the mounting case 1 to secure multiple types of devices, each having a different size, then of course a viewing window 3, which is fabricated from transparent materials such as vinyl, etc., would have to be provided. Preferably, the mounting case 1 is secured to a mounting station 16 (shown below in regard to FIG. 4) and is left permanently attached.

Also shown in this figure is aperture 4. The purpose of aperture 4 is to allow an electronic device to be inserted into the upper portion of mounting case 1. Once the electronic device is inserted into the upper portion of mounting case 1, it is secured via hook and loop material 5.

The lower portion of FIG. 1 illustrates an optional convenience pocket 7 that is defined by a pocket opening 8. The convenience pocket 7 is designed to allow a parent to store small items. Also shown is a section of hook and loop material 9 that is used to secure the contents inside of convenience pocket 7. While hook and loop material 9 is preferred, those skilled in the art will recognize that any suitable securing device can be used.

Also shown in this figure is fold line 6. When the mounting case 1 is moved from one location to another, the mounting case 1 can be folded along fold line 6 to protect the video screen on the electronic device. In addition, apertures 18, 19 in the binding 2 are shown. Apertures 18, 19 are designed to allow convenient attachment of headphones, speakers, charging cords, etc., to the electronic device inside of mounting case 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates the rear plan view of mounting case 1. Rear surface 10 is illustrated, along with fold line 6. Also shown are securing straps 11-13 which are attached to mounting case 1. Strap 12 is attached to the lower portion of mounting case 1 has a side release female buckle 15 attached to its loose end. Side release buckles are well known in the art and are commercially available for numerous uses. Straps 11, 13 are actually the proximal and distal ends of a single contiguous strap. Strap 11 is the proximal end and is secured to the rear of mounting case 1. Strap 13 is the distal end of the strap. Strap 13 fits through an aperture in male buckle 14 and attaches to strap 11 via hook and loop material (shown below in regard to FIG. 4). The hook and loop material used to secure the distal and proximal ends 11, 13 together provides a user with the ability to adjust the length of strap 11, 13. It should be noted that male buckle 14 and female buckle 15 can be reversed in terms of which strap 12 or 11, 13 it is attached to.

FIG. 3 illustrates a referred embodiment of the mounting case 1 in the tabletop-viewing configuration. In this configuration, the upper and lower portions of the mounting case 1 are folded along the fault line 6. Straps 12 and 13, 11 are secured together via male and female buckles 14, 15 such that mounting case 1 is securely positioned. The viewing-angle of window 3 can be adjusted by altering by the relative positions of straps 11, 13. By adjusting straps 11, 13, the user can select the most comfortable viewing angle when watching the screen of the electronic device held within. As a result, the adjustable straps 11-13 allows the mounting case 1 to be used not only in conjunction with travel use, but also to conveniently position the device for ordinary desktop use.

FIG. 4 illustrates a mounting case 1 secured to mounting station 16. Mounting station 16 is preferably an inexpensive adjustable strap that can be conveniently attached to any support. However, while the preferred embodiment envisions a simple strap is secured via hook and loop material, those skilled in the art will recognize that any securing mechanism can be used, and further, a rigid mounting station 16 can also fabricated. The mounting station 16 can be attached to the headrest of a vehicle seat such that when mounting case 1 is attached, it hangs behind the vehicle seat to allow a passenger or child in the vehicle to watch video on the electronic device. Likewise, the mounting station 16 can be attached to a stroller, a crib, an item of furniture, or any other support structure that provides a convenient location.

In this figure, strap 13 is shown encircling mounting station 16. The end of strap 13 is secured strap 11 such that mounting case 1 is secured to mounting station 16. Also shown is male buckle 14.

FIG. 5 illustrates a mounting case 1 that is directly secured to a stroller or carriage handle 17. However, many strollers or characters may not have suitable handle structures. Therefore, a mounting station 16 would have to be used in those environments. Likewise, when the mounting case 1 is secured to another type of structure, the mounting station 16 would also have to be used.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the invention disclosed herein provides convenience when traveling, and also provides other advantages that include comfortable positioning of a device on a tabletop, and use of the device to monitor children and infants.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit, scope, and teaching of the invention. For example, the material used to construct the various components of the system may be anything suitable for its purposes, the size and shape of the components can vary so long as they are suitable for use and accomplish the goals of the invention. Accordingly, the invention herein disclosed is to be limited only as specified in the following claims.

I claim: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for moving an electronic device from one location to another, further comprising: one or more mounting stations, each mounting station having means for connecting to a mounting case; at least one mounting case, the mounting case having means to secure the mounting case to a mounting station; whereby the mounting case can be rapidly moved from one mounting station to another by detaching the mounting case from the first mounting station, and moving it to a second mounting station. 